Problems in Philosophy: Knowledge, Minds, Obligation, and Value L30 PHIL 120F 03 Fall 20L1 Eads Hall 203 MW4-5:30pm Instructor: Dr. Emily M. Crookston Email: TBA Office: Wilson Hall 107 Office phone: 935-8036 Office hours: M 3-4pm, Th 9-10am, and by appointment Description This course is an introduction to some problems that concern some philosophers. We begin with a fundamental problem in epistemology: the problem of knowledge. In this part of the course we will ask and (attempt to) answer questions such as the following: How can we be sure there exists something rather than nothing? What kind of evidence is sufficient for knowledge? What is the difference between belief and knowledge? How is it possible for us to understand the external world around us? In the second part of the course, we explore a somewhat related problem in metaphysics known as the mind-body problem. Here we will examine the nature of the mind and how it relates to the body. What does it mean to say that something is a thinking thing? Can only human beings think? What about computers or animals? Third, we will examine a specific problem in political philosophy: the problem of political obligation. The main question here is whether we have a moral duty to obey the law. Is the government justified in demanding that its citizens obey its commands? Finally, we will explore several problems in ethics concerning moral value; these topics include feminism, distributive justice, the sanctity of life, abortion, and the meaning of life. The broad objectives for this course are (1) to give you a sense of what philosophers think about and why and (2) to teach you to think philosophically for yourselves. The point of the course is not to provide a neat, unified account of "the Truth" about the matters under discussion. That would be a poor way to introduce the subject. Philosophy is not like physics where there is a large body of established truth—established truth, which no physicist would question and which beginners must master (the law of thermodynamics, for example). In philosophy, by contrast, everything is controversial. Professional philosophers disagree about even the most fundamental issues; however, that does not imply that there are no 'right or wrong' answers. Philosophy is first and last an exercise in reason. The ideas that should come out on top are the ones that have the best reasons on their sides. My hope is that you as students learn enough in this course to begin to assess for yourselves where the weight of reason rests both inside and outside of the classroom. Requirements A. Participation (20%): The success and enjoyment of this and any class depends upon the involvement of its members. Please do not be afraid to share even your less-than-fully- worked-out thoughts with the class because undeveloped ideas often lead to fruitful discussion. Each student should come to class having completed the readings and being prepared to discuss the material. To that end, each student will be required to turn in a daily one-page summary of each reading assignment at the beginning of class. All
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Problems in Philosophy: Knowledge,Minds, Obligation, and ValueL30 PHIL 120F 03Fall 20L1Eads Hall 203MW4-5:30pm
Instructor: Dr. Emily M. CrookstonEmail: TBAOffice: Wilson Hall 107Office phone: 935-8036Office hours: M 3-4pm, Th 9-10am, andby appointment
Description
This course is an introduction to some problems that concern some philosophers. We begin witha fundamental problem in epistemology: the problem of knowledge. In this part of the course wewill ask and (attempt to) answer questions such as the following: How can we be sure thereexists something rather than nothing? What kind of evidence is sufficient for knowledge? Whatis the difference between belief and knowledge? How is it possible for us to understand theexternal world around us? In the second part of the course, we explore a somewhat relatedproblem in metaphysics known as the mind-body problem. Here we will examine the nature ofthe mind and how it relates to the body. What does it mean to say that something is a thinkingthing? Can only human beings think? What about computers or animals? Third, we will examinea specific problem in political philosophy: the problem of political obligation. The main questionhere is whether we have a moral duty to obey the law. Is the government justified in demandingthat its citizens obey its commands? Finally, we will explore several problems in ethicsconcerning moral value; these topics include feminism, distributive justice, the sanctity of life,abortion, and the meaning of life.
The broad objectives for this course are (1) to give you a sense of what philosophers think aboutand why and (2) to teach you to think philosophically for yourselves.
The point of the course is not to provide a neat, unified account of "the Truth" about the mattersunder discussion. That would be a poor way to introduce the subject. Philosophy is not likephysics where there is a large body of established truth—established truth, which no physicistwould question and which beginners must master (the law of thermodynamics, for example). Inphilosophy, by contrast, everything is controversial. Professional philosophers disagree abouteven the most fundamental issues; however, that does not imply that there are no 'right orwrong' answers. Philosophy is first and last an exercise in reason. The ideas that should comeout on top are the ones that have the best reasons on their sides. My hope is that you as studentslearn enough in this course to begin to assess for yourselves where the weight of reason restsboth inside and outside of the classroom.
Requirements
A. Participation (20%): The success and enjoyment of this and any class depends upon theinvolvement of its members. Please do not be afraid to share even your less-than-fully-worked-out thoughts with the class because undeveloped ideas often lead to fruitfuldiscussion. Each student should come to class having completed the readings and beingprepared to discuss the material. To that end, each student will be required to turn in adaily one-page summary of each reading assignment at the beginning of class. All
L30 PHIL 120F 03: Problems in Philosophy
summaries must be typed using a 12-point, Times New Roman (or similar) font, and bedouble-spaced with 1-inch margins. Summaries will count as a portion of yourparticipation grade. You may skip three summaries without penalty.
B. Attendance: I do not have an official attendance policy. However, I do expect you torealize that it is very likely that your participation grade, your exam grades, and youroverall grade will be adversely affected by poor attendance. Additionally, this course willbe taught and assessed on the assumption that students will attend all classes.
C. Writing (35%): Each student will be required to turn in two papers: one short paper, 1-2pages in length (10%), and one longer paper, 3-5 pages in length (25%). All papers mustbe typed using a 12-point, Times New Roman (or similar) font, and be double-spacedwith 1-inch margins. The first paper is due on Friday, September 30th, by 5pm and thesecond is due on Friday, November 11th, by 5pm. Late papers will be penalized 1/3 of aletter grade for each day late (that means a B+ paper turned in 2 days late (with theweekend counting as one day) will receive a B-). More information about the format andexpectations for the papers will be given as we approach the due dates.
D. Exams (45%): There will be one mid-term, take-home exam (20%) due in class onMonday, October 17 . The mid-term exam will consist of three or four essay questions.Late exams will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade for each day late (that means a B+exam turned in 2 days late (with the weekend counting as one day) will receive a B-).Additional information about the content of the exam will be given as we approach thedue date. The final exam (25%) will be a two-hour exam given during the scheduledexam period on Tuesday, December 20th at 1pm. The final exam will consist of somemix of the following: short answer questions, passage ids, and essay questions. Moreinformation about the format and expectations for the final will be given as we approachthe final exam date.
E. Academic Integrity: It should not be necessary to say, but all work submitted for credit inthis course must be the student's own and written for this particular course. Ideas orwords borrowed without attribution from another person or borrowed from one's ownwork done for another course constitutes plagiarism. The university's academic integritypolicy or honor code is outlined clearly on the Student Conduct page athttp://studentconduct.wustl.edu/integritv/policy. If I discover an instance of plagiarism orany other violation of the academic integrity policy, the student(s) will automatically failthe course and be reported according to the proper procedures. I take all violations ofacademic integrity, including but not limited to lying, cheating, and stealing, veryseriously.
F. Required Texts:Joel Feinberg and Russ Shafer-Landau (eds.). Reason and Responsibility: Readings inSome Basic Problems of Philosophy. Wadsworth Publishing, 14th ed. (2011). ISBN:0495812838 (RR).C.H. Wellman and A. John Simmons. Is There a Duty to Obey the Law? (For andAgainst). Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 0521537843 {DOL).
L30 PHIL 120F 03: Problems in Philosophy
Schedule*
FFHB Topic Reading08/31 Introduction to course None
09/05 NO CLASS Labor Day
I. Problem of Knowledge
Date Topic Readings09/07 Skepticism: Pollock, Huemer, and Chisholm RR, p. 153-166
09/12 Nature of Knowledge: Plato, Gettier, and Comma",etal
RR, p. 167-174
09/14 Knowledge of External World: Russell RR, p. 175-182
09/19 Knowledge of External World: Descartes RR, p. 182-198
09/21 Knowledge of External World: Descartes (cont.) RR, p. 198-214
09/26 Knowledge of the External World: Locke andBerkeley
RR, p. 215-230
09/28 Knowledge of the External World: Reid and Moore RR, p. 231-237
9/30 SHORT PAPER DUE 5pm
II. Mind-Body Problem
p n i Topic Reading10/03 The Problem: Gertler RR, p. 303-315
10/05 The Problem: Jackson and Carruthers RR, p. 315-327
10/10 Non-Human Minds: Turing and Searle RR, p. 335-350
10/12 Non-Human Minds: Lycan and Carruthers RR, p. 350-363
10/17 Non-Human Minds: SearleMIDTERM EXAM DUE
RR, p. 364-373in class
L30 PHIL 120F 03: Problems in Philosophy
III. Problem of Political Obligation
EH31 Topic Reading10/19 Why I'm not an Anarchist: Wellman DOL, p. 2-29
10/24 Doing One's Fair Share: Wellman DOL, p. 30-53
10/26 Just and Unjust Laws: Wellman DOL, p. 54-73
10/31 Confronting Injustice: Wellman DOL, p. 74-89
11/02 The Problem and Theories: Simmons DOL, p. 93-120
11/07 lVT«+-.*-.rtl F\..4-^«.-. ~ — ~z 4-1, ~ rv,.j— .*— nu«... o: . .„lNctLuidi l/uucs ctHu uie uUiy lu \juty. oiiiimunb DOL, p. 121-142
11/09 Natural Duties and the Duty to Obey: Simmons DOL, p. 142-165
11/11 LONGER PAPER DUE 5pm
11/14 Natural Duties and the Duty to Obey: Simmons DOL, p. 166-188
IV. Ethical Problems
lITRfffMI Topic Reading11/16 Feminism: Lindemann RR, p. 616-622
11/21 Distributive justice: Rawls RR, p. 579-585
11/23 NO CLASS Thanksgiving break
11/28 Distributive Justice: Singer and Harris RR, p. 630-641
11/30 Sanctity of Life: Rachels and Singer RR, p. 641-652
12/05 Abortion: Thomson and Marquis RR, p. 652-664
12/07 Meaning of Life: Taylor and Nagel RR, p. 675-687
FINAL EXAM
I reserve the right to make changes to the schedule as I see fit.
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